She nearly bit back that he should have tried a little harder, but the truth was, she was the one at fault here. She initiated it and hadn't wanted to take no for an answer.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly, a little mortified when she saw things for what they were. “I shouldn’t have done that to you. I shouldn’t have made you—”
“You didn’tmakeme do anything, Shannon,” he clarified, seeing where she was going with this. “You didn’t force me at any point.” The corner of his mouth twitched with amusement. “Mayhap lured me a wee bit. Made it impossible to refuse you no matter if ‘twas him or me. Whether ‘twas this life or the last.”
“So you think it was partly our previous life?” she asked, even though she knew it had to have been. “That we actually broke the rules to that degree?”
“I do.” His weapon-roughened fingers drifted down her arm absently as though he couldn’t stand not touching her. “And I think once we did, ‘twas impossible not to do it again and often. To push our limits further than we should have. Take chances that were too bold given the circumstances.”
Awareness spread through her at his light touch. At the way he looked at her. As though he would have done it again and again. That he wanted to do it at this very moment.
“We shouldn’t have,” she murmured, pulling the blanket more firmly around her when part of her wanted to let it fall. See his eyes on her. Feel his touch everywhere. A touch, she reminded herself, that had been on countless others before her. That would be on endless more after her.
“It won’t happen again.” She shook her head. “I can help you without us sleeping together.”
“Mayhap.” He considered her a moment, seeing more than she wanted him to, before he swung the blankets aside and stood. “Yet I get the sense who you were in another life doesn't entirely agree with you.” Cocky as ever, he winked at her. “I also think ‘tis only a matter of time before who you are now will want more. ‘Tis clear that beyond last night, you’ve not been well seen to for some time.”
“How is that clear?” she managed, trying to keep her eyes off of his body.
Good God, she didn’t know what she was trying not to look at most. His muscular arms and shoulders, chiseled abs, perfect thighs, or his impressive arousal. He didn’t hide how aroused he was, either, but seemed completely at ease in his own skin as he went to the door, cracked it open, and spoke to whoeverstood outside. Meanwhile, despite trying her damndest not to, she couldn’t help but admire the tight globes of his backside.
He gave her a knowing grin and saw to the fire. “’Twill be a few minutes before food arrives. Are you sure you would not like to—”
“I’m sure,” she lied when all she could think about was feeling what she’d felt last night. “Like I said. One-time deal.”
“Then you best get dressed.” He gestured at his erection. “Or this will find no peace.”
“Feel free to find it elsewhere,” she managed, surprised by how hard it was to say. “You don’t owe me anything, Liam.” She looked around the room for her clothing. “Especially monogamy.”
“I won’t be lying with other lasses whilst you’re here,” Liam enlightened, surprising her. “’Twould not be...right.” He gestured to something hanging in the corner. “And your dress is right there.” He downright shocked her this time when he fell to a knee and bowed his head. “Unnamed One.”
She blinked from him to the dress that wasn’t a flicker now but very much solid. Instinctively drawn, her gaze drifted from the dress to the blade resting on a small table beside it. Oblivious to her nudity, she went to it and picked it up, surprised by how light it was when it appeared such a solid piece.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, enthralled. Empowered by it somehow.
“’Tisbeautiful,” he agreed softly, drawing her attention with the awestruck way he said it, only to discover he wasn’t talking about the blade. Not based on the blatant desire in his gaze as it roamed her body.
She wasn’t sure if it was her womanly instincts or the power of the blade affecting her, but she sensed he saw her differently than the women he’d been with before her. Craved her more. And while tempted to give in to that look, to an erection thatalmost appeared painful, she still found the strength and clarity of mind to know better.
So she set the blade aside and slid into her dress, only to realize she might not be nearly as strong as she thought when she glanced his way again.
Moreover, when she saw things a little too clearly.
